TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 10 bills into law that cover a variety of issues, including voter registration, spaceport designations and employment regulations.
Those new laws include the following:
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HB 135 - Voter Registration Applications
House Bill 135 amends parts of the state’s voter registration application statutes.
Primarily, voters can only switch their party affiliation if they designate and agree to the change in writing, the text reads. The change is intended to prevent issues for residents renewing their driver’s licenses.
According to Florida Politics, some voters in Florida have had their party affiliation switched without their knowledge thanks to a “glitch” in the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ software.
As a result, the new law requires that the DHSMV ensures its “technology process and updates do not alter an applicant’s party affiliation without the written consent of the applicant.”
The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
HB 201 - Emergency Insulin Refills
If a pharmacist is unable to obtain authorization from a prescriber for a prescription insulin refill, the pharmacist may instead provide an emergency refill to treat diabetes mellitus, House Bill 201 states.
However, pharmacists may not do this more than three “nonconsecutive times” each year, the text reads.
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 433 - Employment Regulations
House Bill 433 prevents local governments in Florida from implementing heat exposure requirements for companies.
Instead, city and county governments may only establish heat exposure requirements for their own employees, the text says.
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 709 - In-Store Servicing of Alcoholic Beverages
House Bill 709 allows distributors of distilled spirits — including brandy, whiskey or rum — to provide in-store servicing of these beverages for vendors they sell to.
This authorization includes placing these drinks on store shelves, rotating bottles, and price stamping the products.
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 937 - Purple Alert
House Bill 937 updates the state’s Purple Alert statutes.
The new law will require local law enforcement agencies to develop their own policies to determine whether a Purple Alert should be activated.
When such an alert is issued, these agencies are also required to contact media outlets, inform all on-duty law enforcement officers and communicate the information to other law enforcement agencies within the county.
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 1227 - Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day
House Bill 1227 establishes “Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day” in Florida.
The holiday is set to take place every fourth Thursday in March, and it will celebrate the Tuskegee Airmen — the first black military flying squadron in the U.S., which fought in World War II.
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 1337 - Department of Corrections
House Bill 1337 is aimed at providing extra authority for investigators under the Office of Inspector General regarding departmental and contractor-operated correctional facilities.
Under the legislation, correctional privatization contracts are no longer exempt from certain state provisions.
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 592 - Historical Preservation Programs
Senate Bill 592 requires the Florida Department of State to partner with the Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network “to preserve the history, culture and contributions of Florida’s black and African-American residents.”
This includes supporting member museums, funding galleries, developing exhibits and preserving artifacts, the text reads.
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 968 - Spaceport Territory
Senate Bill 968 brings two new spaceports to Florida: one at Homestead Air Force Reserve Base (located south of Miami) and another at Tyndall Air Force Base by Panama City.
The bill designates these two areas as “spaceport territories,” and the legislation is aimed at improving infrastructure in the state for Florida’s booming aerospace industry.
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 1090 - Alcoholic Drink Sales
Senate Bill 1090 increases penalties for breaking Florida’s laws regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Anyone who operates a place where these types of drinks are sold unlawfully can now face a third-degree felony charge, along with fines of between $5,000 and $10,000.
In addition, those who sell alcoholic drinks without a license can now be punished with fines between $15,000 and $20,000 on second and subsequent offenses, the text reads.
The law will take effect on July 1.
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